Figure skatingNew stars to emerge at Grand Prix Final

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Russian pairs skaters Vera Bazarova, front, and Yuri Larionov are one of the new young teams to watch heading into the Grand Prix Final. (Francois Mori/Associated Press)

The field is set for figure skating's Grand Prix Final in Beijing, where some relative newcomers will be trying to make their marks.

The six-week, six-competition Grand Prix of Figure Skating series concluded a couple weekends ago in Paris with the Trophee Eric Bompard event.

The pairs competition was probably the most predictable as the two-time world champions from Germany, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy, claimed their second Grand Prix victory of the season to earn a berth in Beijing.

Their strength and sensational moves cannot be denied, although I am still not convinced that the music from the Pink Panther is the right vehicle for this team. Their sober and serious style seems mismatched when paired with the light-hearted Henry Mancini piece.

What continually made this season's Grand Prix so interesting was the fact that, for the most part, the competition was unpredictable, leaving the door open for new stars to emerge.

Russian skaters like Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov are the perfect example of relative newcomers who earned their second silver medal of the season while gaining entrance into the Grand Prix Final. The bronze medallists, Maylin Hausch and Daniel Wende of Germany, were pleased to take home their first podium finish of their career.

The men saw 2007 world champion from France, Brian Joubert, withdraw shortly before the free skate due to gastroenteritis. Joubert was fifth following his short program.

Japan's Takahiko Kozuka won his second Grand Prix event of this season and will be a strong contender in Beijing. His programs are both technically challenging and musically expressive. He earned the season's highest score in both the free and overall total, and looks to me like the man to beat for some time.

Frenchman Florent Amodio placed second with a confident display, posting his season's best total score. The bronze medal went to American Brandon Mroz, who was in third in both the short and free segments.

In ice dance, the French team of Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat were basically unchallenged as they headed to the top of the podium.

They also were able to claim their GP Final spot on the basis of winning both the short and free dance segments in Paris.

Second place went to the Russian team of Ekaterina Riazanova and Ilia Tkachenko, who showed much more strength in their second Grand Prix outing and appear to be one of the new young teams to watch. Madison Chock and Greg Zuerlein of the United States earned the bronze medal.

The women have been very inconsistent over the course of the season, with favourites collapsing like a proverbial house of cards. Defending World champion from Japan Mao Asada finished a disappointing fifth.

She is said to be suffering from a technique adjustment to her jumps prescribed by her new coach, Nobuo Sato. It can't be easy to manage her disastrous Grand Prix results in the glare of the public and I would think it must have an adverse effect on her confidence.

Conversely, Kiira Korpi of Finland, who can also be inconsistent, was able to hold on to the lead she carried after the short program right to the top of the podium. American Mirai Nagasu was won the free program, but it wasn't enough to overtake Korpi. The bronze medal went to Skate Canada champion Alissa Czisny of the United States, although she was tentative in both programs.

The American will have the chance to redeem herself as she was the final woman to qualify for the Final.

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